(1) As soon as the situation in Babylon seemed fine to him, so that he might travel out, he began preparing for an expedition to Persia, and he directed the others to do likewise. When he believed he had enough of what he thought he needed, then, of course, he moved out. (2) We will describe this too, how—even though it was a great expedition—he made camp and broke camp in good order and how he quickly took a position where it was required, for wherever the king camps, all those in the king’s circle take the field with their tents, both summer and winter. (3) Cyrus immediately adopted the custom of pitching his tent facing the east. Next he determined, first of all, how far distant from the king’s tent his bodyguards should pitch their tents; then he showed a place on the right for the breadmakers, and one on the left for the saucemakers, and another on the right for the horses, and another on the left for the rest of the pack animals. He also arranged the other things so that each knew his own place, in both size and location. (4) When they break camp, each gathers together the equipment he has been assigned to use, and others in their turn put it up on the pack animals. Consequently, all the baggage carriers come at the same time to the pack animals assigned to carry things, and all at the same time load these animals, each his own. Thus, of course, the same time suffices to load up and carry off all tents as it does for one. (5) So it is also in regard to making camp. And regarding the preparation of all provisions at the right time, what must be done is similarly assigned in shares to each. And because of this, the same time suffices for everything to be done as for one part. (6) Just as each servant involved with provisions had a fitting place, so also those who bore arms for him both had a place in the camp suited to each sort of armament and knew which it was, and all took positions about which there could be no doubt. (7) Cyrus held orderliness to be a noble practice also in a household, for whenever anyone needs anything, it is clear where he needs to go to get it. But he believed the orderliness of the divisions of an army to be still more noble by far, insofar as the opportunities for using things in war are more sudden and the errors from being late more costly. He saw possessions26 of the greatest worth arising in wars when things are on hand in opportune moments. He therefore was especially careful about such orderliness.
(8) And he himself, in the first place, established himself in the middle of the army camp, on the grounds that this was the strongest place. Next, he had his most trusted troops around himself, as was his custom; and in a circle around these he kept both knights and charioteers. (9) He believed that these too needed a strong place, because they encamp without having any of the weapons with which they fight ready at hand, but they need a lot of time for arming, if they are going to be useful. (10) On the right and the left of both him and the knights was a place for targeteers; and next there was a place for archers both in front of and behind himself and the knights. (11) Hoplites and those with the great shields he had in a circle around everything, like a wall, in order that if it should be at all necessary to get the knights ready, having those most able to stand fast in the front would provide them safety for arming. (12) As he had the hoplites sleep in order, so also with the targeteers and the archers. Thus, if there should be some need even at night, just as the hoplites are prepared to strike whoever comes within reach, so also the archers and the spearmen, if any approach, might promptly throw their spears and shoot their arrows over the hoplites. (13) All the officers also had insignias over their tents.27 Just as also in cities moderate servants know the houses of most people, and especially of the chiefs, so also—of the troops in his camps—Cyrus’ aides both knew the places of the leaders and also recognized the insignias that each had. Consequently, they did not go searching for whomever Cyrus needed, but they ran along the shortest route to each. (14) And because the several divisions were not mixed, it was also much more clear when someone was in good order and if someone was not doing what was commanded. When things were like this, he held that if someone were to attack during night or day, the attackers would fall upon his camp as into an ambush. (15) And as for being a tactician, he held it not enough if someone should be able to stretch a phalanx out easily; or to deepen one; or to change a formation from a column into a phalanx; or to countermarch correctly with an enemy appearing from the right, from the left, or from behind; but he held that separating when necessary was part of tactics, and putting each part where it would be especially beneficial, and speeding up where it should be necessary to get the jump on the enemy—all these and such things he believed to belong to the man skilled in tactics, and he took similar care on all of these points. (16) On his marches, he always marched with a view to the circumstances, but in his army’s camp, he positioned things, for the most part, as has been said.
(17) When in their march they were beside Media, Cyrus turned his course toward Cyaxares. When they greeted each other, first, of course, Cyrus told Cyaxares that a house had been selected for him in Babylon, as had official buildings, in order that he might be able to lodge in places of his own whenever he went there. Then he gave him many other beautiful gifts. (18) Cyaxares accepted them, and sent him his daughter bearing a golden crown, bracelets, a necklace, and a Median robe as beautiful as possible. (19) The girl crowned Cyrus, and Cyaxares said, “I give you, Cyrus, this woman, who is my daughter. Your father married the daughter of my father, from whom you were born. This is she whom you, when you were a boy, often tended when you stayed with us.28 And whenever anyone should ask her whom she would marry, she used to say, ‘Cyrus.’ Along with her I also give all of Media as a dowry, for I have no legitimate male children.”
(20) Thus he spoke, and Cyrus answered, “Cyaxares, I praise your family, your daughter, and your gifts, but I wish to concur with you on these things in conformity with the judgment of my father and mother.” So Cyrus spoke like this. Nevertheless, he gave the girl all gifts that he thought would gratify Cyaxares as well. Having done these things, he marched to Persia.
(21) When in his march he was at the borders of Persia, he left the rest of the army there, and he himself marched into the city with his friends, bringing sufficient sacred victims for all Persians to offer in sacrifice and feast on. He brought in such gifts as were fitting for his father, his mother, and other friends; and such as were fitting for magistrates, elders, and all the Peers. He gave [gifts] also to all the Persian men and Persian women, as many as the king still now gives whenever he arrives in Persia. (22) After this, Cambyses called the Persian elders and magistrates together, those who presided over the greatest matters. He also summoned Cyrus, and he spoke as follows: “Persian men and you, Cyrus, I am of goodwill toward you both, as is to be expected, for of you I am king, and you, Cyrus, are my son. It is just, then, that I say openly as many things as I think I know to be good for both of you. (23) Regarding past events, you [Persians] elevated Cyrus, giving him an army and establishing him as its ruler, and Cyrus, leading it with the [help of the] gods, made you, Persians, famous among all human beings, and honored in all Asia. Of those who campaigned with him, he both enriched the best and provided a wage and support for the many. By establishing a cavalry of Persians, he has made for the Persians a tie to the plains. (24) Now if in the future you will judge things in this manner, you will be the causes of many good things for each other. But if either you, Cyrus, being raised up by your present fortunes, undertake to rule Persians as you do others, with a view to your own special advantage, or you, citizens, envying him for his power, try to depose him from his rule, be assured that you will hinder each other from many good things. (25) In order that these things not occur, but good ones instead, it seems to me,” he said, “that, sacrificing in common and invoking gods as witnesses, you should make a compact: You, Cyrus, that if anyone marches against Persian land or tries to tear up Persia’s laws, you will give aid with all your strength; and you, Persians, that if someone either undertakes to depose Cyrus from his rule or if any of his subjects undertakes to revolt, you will give aid both to yourselves and to Cyrus, in whatever way he demands. (26) And as long as I am alive, the kingship in Persia is mine. When I die, it is clear that it belongs to Cyrus, if he is alive. Whenever he returns to Persia, it would be pious for you to have him offer in sacrifice on your behalf those sacred victims that I now offer. Whenever he is away, I think it would be noble for you if whoever from our family seems best to you would be the one to perform the [rites] of the gods.”
(27) Cambyses having said these things, they were so decided by Cyrus and the Persian authorities. Having made this compact at that time and having invoked gods as witnesses, even now the Persians and the king continue to act in this manner toward each other. When these things were done, Cyrus went away.
(28) When he was in Media on his return, since it seemed good to his father and mother, he married Cyaxares’ daughter, of whom there is still even now talk of her as having been very beautiful. Some writers say that he married his mother’s sister. But this girl would by all means have been an old woman. Having married, he immediately set out with [her].